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Monday, October 15, 2012

Final ballpoint rendering of folded paper page.white blotches are gaps left for perforated circles - see small image below.

1st phase ballpoint pendrawing of paper page.

This post explores the
integration of my passion for drawing and my quest to create and authentic
artists book. Featured on this post is a step-by-step account of rendering a folded paper page as part of my reference and conceptual development for an artists book. New ways of seeing, illustrating and exploring the codex of the book (as art product) - a continuation of my theme; celebrating the handmade in a digital age.

2nd phase of ballpoint pen drawing of folder paper page.pencilled circles will be perforated to reveal images on the next page.

Introduction

I teach drawing to Jewellery
students, mainly to use drawing as a tool in the design, development and
manufacture of products. Thinking through drawing in the development of a
concept, the design development of a chosen idea (applying the design
principals) and the realization of the final jewellery pieces in technical
drawings as well as presentation renderings. However it is at the foundation
level (at first year) that students are introduced to the basics of drawing
(before designing), observing and rendering from life, organic objects as well
as mechanical and manmade objects.

One of the exercises (learning activities)
introduced during the foundation program is to facilitate the transfer of
skills associated with the rendering of a broad spectrum of tonal values in the
modeling of complex forms and shapes.

Paul
Jackson has been a professional paper folder and paper artist since 1982 and is
the author of 30 books on paper arts and crafts. He has taught the techniques
of folding on more than 150 university-level design courses in the UK, Germany,
Belgium, the US, Canada and Israel. These include courses in Architecture,
Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Jewellery, Product Design,
Packaging, Ceramics, Industrial Design, Fine Art, Basic Design and Interior
Design. He has also taught many workshops in museums, arts centers and
festivals and has worked as a folding consultant for companies such as Nike and
Siemens. As cited at pleat farm, an amazing site that explores pleating
in all forms, shapes and sizes across all disciplines - especially
architecture, fashion and lighting and furniture.

4th phase

The
learning activity (project brief) encourages students to design and construct a
paper prototype in a variety of sizes and then to render the product exploring
a variety of drawing materials including pencils and ballpoint pens
(demonstrated here). They have to render the planar forms and shapes accurately
before they apply the broad spectrum of available tonal values - to capture the
folded paper product – from light to dark (depending the strength of the light
source).

The exercise introduced students to modeling simple forms and shapes
(planar constructions) before embarking on more difficult organic forms and
shapes. Planar constructed paper product makes for interesting drawing
exercises when light from a light source is cast on the product – the variation
of tonal values is immense and presents a significant learning challenge for
foundation drawing students.

Background
for the artists book – exploring the folding of paper.

My
intent was to explore the book’s pages, both as perforated and rendered,
integrating the art of drawing, sculpting in paper and printing. For my first
exercise I chose a paper folded prototype that is simple to render and relates
to the size of my pages, creating the illusion that the actual page has been
altered, folded to resemble an origami product. I started the drawing by
rendering its form and shape to scale (outlines). Then step-by-step I modeled the planes,
starting with the darkest areas, working towards the lightest planes – as
featured here on this post.

Actual
drawing technique - pointers

The right pen - It is vital that you select
a ballpoint pen that does not dispose of its ink to freely - creating ink
blotches on the paper that can spoil the overall quality of the rendering,
especially when illustrating such a simple product as illustrated here on this
post. I work mainly with the fine Big pens – asking the manager of a stationery
shop if I could test all the pens and select the best of the bunch. I recommend
that you present your drawing book to the store manager (gain their support) before
embarking on testing all the pens in the store.They normally marvel at my work - making the task of asking that much
easier.

Another
important point is drawing on a small scale to be in a position to turn the book or separate pages to
master the art of cross hatching when modeling the forms and shapes (shadows).

I
also recommend that you use a heavier
paper, a 150 -250 grams. This allows the drawing to breath as mentioned on
a previous post. It is also possible to them build up layers of ink – very much
like burnishing a clay pot (ceramic product). It is almost impossible to overdo
the amount of ink on good quality paper. It will always reduce to lines when
enlarged using a Photostatting machine or when scanned and altered
digitally.

Final phase before cutting out the circles -perforated circles to reveal the images on the next page.

The next phase is
to explore the rendering on the folded pages as well perforating the rendered page (Circles to be cut – light
spots in the drawing) to reveal images on the next page – to feature in
the next blog entry.

Friday, October 5, 2012

A trip to Rosendal was planned for the weekend - a regular country retreat. I thought I would share images and recipes of my last visit - earlier in the year. As mentioned before on this blog, Daniel's home is situated in the town, nestled amongst other properties; his is a home with a well maintained flower and herb garden, including a large pond with a variety of animals - a truly unique Rosendal experience. Sadly the trip had to be cancelled for unforeseen circumstances.

This entry therefore serves as a
reminder of a past weekend away and an opportunity missed to replenish the soul
and energy levels, before the final push to get through a tiresome 2012. Hopefully
it will encourage you to invest in quality time with fabulous friends at a
welcoming and relaxing destination – a home from home.

Can’t wait for
the next opportunity to sit on the ‘stoep’, drink wine and chat away or visit
the local restaurant and meet up with residents and tourists - catching up with
the latest developments and gossip. It is also a time to read and draw, with
occasional breaks and walks, in between cooking breakfast, lunch and dinners,
to view the incredible scenery, a variety of forms, shapes and textures.

Daniel teasing the rooster.

A walk
in Daniel’s garden also provides a feast for the eye, whilst the local bird
life, the resident rooster, ducks and geese, provide lively farm-like activity in
this otherwise quiet country retreat. The pond and lack of dogs on the property
provide for an established oasis - attracting a variety of birdlife.

Late afternoon
walks at sunset are particularly stunning – a variety of trees and grasses
adding to the spectacular sun saturated landscapes. It is spring at the moment and
everything should be growing and budding - arguably the best time of the year
to visit this quaint un-spoilt Free State Town. They do have special weekend
promotions – the next being The Cherry Festival 16-19 November. We often take
walks to the hotel, The Rosendal, for breakfasts and or sundowners.

Breakfasts served
on the backyard ‘stoep’, with a view of the garden and the pond is the best.
Fruit salads with interesting egg dishes are served – an attempt to start the
day healthy, before the bar opens at eleven – an excuse to wine and dine on
homemade dishes and or at the local restaurant. When in doubt eat drink and be
merry.

Hence the next
post of a fab Rosendal dish.

Showcased here is
a potato bake dish cooked for Saturday
lunch. Potatoes sliced and fused with the flavour of bayleaves and baked in an onion, coconut milk/cream and cheese sauce. Served with a prawn and vegetable green salad. The combination
makes for a visual spectacular and tasty meal. The two dishes complimenting
each other well, in both colour, texture and taste.

Potato Bake

Sauce

Slice and dice a few onions (two to three).

Finely chopthree garlic gloves – or minced (fresh and crunchy).

Add the coconut
milk/cream to a bowl (alternatively use a broth), grate in the cheese (any cheddar cheese of your
choice - *blue cheese is the best).

Add the onions and the garlic including a few sprigs of thyme.

Add a pinch of salt and pepper to your taste.

Fry bacon and add to the sauce (optional)

Mix through.

Make sure to preheat a moderate hot oven (180
degrees Celsius / 350F)

Potatoes

Meanwhile, carefully slice a number of medium size potatoes (scrubbed with their
skins on)at regular intervals (enough
to fill a baking dish) – be careful not
to cut all the way through.

Add thebay leaves (cut to size to fit the gaps in the potatoes).

*Make sure you make use of fresh bay leaves.

Arrange the potatoes in an ovenproof
dish – they should support each other to stand upright, creating gaps for
the rather rich sauce.

Pour the sauce over the potatoes in the dish
– enough to just cover them. Sprinkle over some olive oil. Cook in the
preheated oven for 45 minutes to an hour (until the potatoes are cooked though
and the Herb flavours are infused into the potatoes. Make sure the sauce is
replenished if need be during cooking.

Vegetable
green salad with pesto mayo prawns.

For the lunch I also boiled some Frenchgreen beans.

Drain when cooked; plunge into cold
water to ensure it retains its green colour and remains firm to the bite.

Pick an assortment of salad leaves and herbs (preferably basil) and wash
thoroughly before serving the salad leaves on a platter.

Carefully place the cooked
prawns on the salad leaves, together with the cooked beans and finely chopped cucumber.

Spoon on the creamy mayonnaise, dribbled with the basil pesto – over the
prawns (image above).

Title image: Ceramic installation with projected animation titled, and the ship sails on. In celebration of the Chinese year of the dragon. Follow link to view video on You Tube.EUGENE HŐN : CERAMIC ARTISTThe purpose of this blog is to inform you of the creative thinking behind my ceramic statements.I will therefore provide reference material to facilitate greater interaction with you in the development of ceramic concepts. The expressed views and posted comments are intended to illustrate how the ceramic statements act as a vehicle for an expanding discourseon relevant art, design and craft issues.

About Me

I am a ceramic artist with a passion for drawing. My ceramic statements are a creative response to the literary sources I choose to read. I am also an academic, recently appointed Director of the FADA Gallery at the University of Johannesburg. I am an artist that celebrates the handmade, with strong concepts and meaning that straddles the disciplines of ceramics, sculpture, drawing, artist’s books, digital printing, animation, video or digital projection Installation and ultimately design.